By Cem Perdar
Turkey is the target supplier for many Ugandans considering its production capacity, competitive prices and high quality products, and ease of transportation. Uganda-Turkey trade, which was especially active with Turkey’s African expansion in the early 2000s, has increased over time with daily flights of Turkish Airlines in recent years to nearly all of the African countries.
Here are the steps a Ugandan should follow while doing business in Turkey.
Procuring products from Turkey: First of all, the appropriate supplier should be identified and contacted via internet or through trade fairs. The situation I encounter frequently; Ugandans come to Turkey to find suppliers just by taking a plane. Without making a propriate appointment, they schedule a break-in visit to the supplier they are interested in. To be honest, I have never found this method useful. My advice to Ugandans who have such an intention is to come to Turkey by planning their business trips day by day in advance. Otherwise, they may face a serious waste of time. Think about it, the executive of the company you are interested in went on leave the week you came to Turkey and you cannot meet him. In this case, your travel may turn into a financial loss for you.
Arrival in Istanbul: First, the money exchange process. I recommend that you exchange your money in an office in the city center to avoid as much exchange rate difference and commission as possible. In order to establish a better communication with the taxi drivers, I suggest that you carry the address in writing with you. Traffic is also very heavy in Istanbul, so make your appointments with this in mind.
Since Turkey has identified its biggest target in exports as the African market, I guarantee that you will be welcomed with great interest by almost all manufacturers. It is entirely in your hands to turn this situation into a great advantage. I would like to state that you have a strong hand for price negotiation, sample supply and fast service. Mentally, Turkish people are close to Ugandan mindset. This may cause the commercial bridge between the two cultures to turn into an emotional bond over time. As a person who has been trading with Uganda for many years, I have established a very close relationship with my partner in Uganda, and I feel like home every time I visit Kampala thanks to him. I would like to state that I have a smooth friendship with my Ugandan business partner, both in terms of business perspective, actions taken together in business, and family ties.
To Ugandans who want to do business with Turkey; Let Turkey always be your second home. With the proximity of the Turkish people to Ugandans, the suitability of the products to the market, and the provision of fruitful commercial conditions, this beautiful country can be a supply paradise for Ugandans. However, before deciding to purchase a product from Turkey, you should definitely get offers from a few different companies. Making price comparisons will always be an important step to to buy the best product at a lower cost. It should be noted that the best money is earned when making a purchase.
It does not take long to ship the purchased products to Uganda on a container basis. A container from Istanbul will arrive in Mombasa at the port of Istanbul in approximately 30-35 days. From there, the goods likely reach Kampala within 15 days.
Companies Rise or Fall on How Well They Renew Their LeadersIn conclusion, finding the supplier, requesting the sample, making the relevant visits, placing the order, making the payment and the process of arriving the goods from Turkey to Uganda can take approximately 75-90 days to complete. On the other hand, both the government of Turkey and the export associations in the country support the export operations of Uganda. For this reason, even freight incentives were given to Turkish exporters in the past years. There is no extra customs duty between Uganda and Turkey, which facilitates commercial transactions.
Turkey is arguably the biggest supplier of food products, textiles, industrial machinery and construction materials to Ugandan people. It should not be forgotten that our time is our greatest wealth. Make sure to plan your business trips to Turkey in the best way in advance and make your appointments.
As of the beginning of July 2021, Covid-19 measures in Turkey have been relaxed with the increase in vaccination. All offices and industrial establishments continue their full-performance activities. For this reason, Ugandans will not face any quarantine or restrictions when they come to Turkey.
For all your commercial transactions, Turkey can be your home in Europe with peace of mind. Turkey welcomes all Ugandan business people with great interest.
Cem Perdar, Export Sales Manager/Africa at Pakmaya, Pak Holding
Email: cperdar@gmail.com
